Head Coach Kieran Smith said major tournaments in the last few months, including the University 7s Series as well as school and club tournaments, have helped determine the final squad.
“The selection process culminated with the State Championships in Forster a couple of weeks ago. From there, we selected a wider training squad of 45 which was then reduced to 30 after we held trials last weekend,” Smith said.
Smith spoke of the difficulties of choosing a team of just 24 given the level of talent and depth on display.
“We now have a big emphasis on growing and developing girls in that 16, 17-year-old age bracket, and State clubs are now working hard to increase the skill of all their players, so it’s becoming quite hard to separate them,” Smith added.
“The big difference we’re seeing now is the growth in the number of football players coming through rather than just athletes. Instead of bringing in young female athletes and turning them into footballers, we now have a huge talent pool to work with which is really positive for the future of rugby sevens,” Smith said.
The Youth National Championships will run from Thursday 6 December – Sunday 9 December at Ballymore Stadium, Queensland.
NSW Girls Youth Squad:
Tylah Amiatu, Blacktown
Katalina Amosa, Macquarie University
Jamie Chapman, Burraneer
Janalee Conroy, Central West
Piper Duck, Barker College
Tegan Dymock, Randwick Magic
Gardinia Faalogo, West Harbour
Hayley Hifo, Liverpool
Tia Hinds, Randwick Magic
Zali Hopkins, Randwick Magic
Phoebe Mcloughlin, Central North
Lily Murdoch, Illawarra
Miah O’Sullivan, Central North
Faliki Pohiva, Liverpool
Aroha Spillane, Illawarra
Mareva Swann, Burraneer
Jada Taylor, Central North
Bienna Terita, Randwick Magic
Viena Tinao, Illawarra
Cassey Tohi-Hiku, West Harbour
Litiana Tuifua, Liverpool
Bronti Westaway, Randwick Magic
Jakiya Whitfeld, Sydney University
Louisa Yarranamua, West Harbour
Wider Playing Squad:
Stella Casey, Illawarra
Miah Enright, Randwick Magic
Kiara Hawkins, Central West
Eboney Prior, Burraneer
April Smith, Central North
Grace Tokabobo, West Harbour
Leanne Toomalati, West Harbour
Summer Witt, Central West
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